Top 6 Exercises AFTER Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Surgery

Updated October 24, 2025

If you’ve just had Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery, you’re now in what we call the “post-surgical” or “post-op” phase of your recovery.

This can be a busy time, between follow-up appointments with your knee surgeon, physical therapy appointments, and trying to rest and recover.

In general, you’ll have 2 key goals during this post-surgery phase: 

1. Regain full knee range of motion (aka ROM)
2. Regain full strength

To help you achieve these two primary goals, there are 6 exercises you want to prioritize during this period, especially during the first several weeks (3 exercises for quad muscle activation and 3 exercises for knee range of motion).

3 Exercises for Quad Muscle Activation

->> Quad Sets

->> SLRs (Straight Leg Raises)

->> TKEs (Terminal Knee Extensions)

3 Exercises for Knee Range of Motion (ROM)

->> Stair Knee Flexion Stretches

->> Stair Knee Extension Stretches

->> Seated Knee Extension Stretches

I’ll demonstrate all 6 exercises in the video below and give you some guidelines for how many sets and reps you should perform each day.

I hope this video helps you make a full recovery from your Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Surgery, and that you’re able to gain full knee ROM and strength as quickly as possible!

Feel free to email me any specific questions at Luke@GordonPhysicalTherapy.com

– Luke Gordon, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy/Owner of Gordon Physical Therapy)